smectic

Definition of SMECTIC

: of, relating to, or being the phase of a liquid crystal characterized by arrangement of molecules in layers with the long molecular axes in a given layer being parallel to one another and those of other layers and perpendicular or slightly inclined to the plane of the layer — compare cholesteric, nematic

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Origin of SMECTIC

Latin smecticus cleansing, having the properties of soap, from Greek smēktikos, from smēchein to clean